How to Grow Strawberries in a Wood Pallet

by Carolyn Robbins

Strawberry plants need full sun exposure.

Pallet gardening is a wonderful way to grow a low-maintenance, succulent strawberry patch with only a little prep work. A pallet garden takes up only a few feet of room and is consequently a wonderful option for apartment dwellers or homeowners with limited gardening space. Plant the pallet garden in the spring after the danger of frost has past and keep the pallet in full sunlight during the day. Strawberries are hardy up to zone 2.

Preparation

You can use almost any shipping pallet for this project, but avoid pressure-treated wood. The chemicals used in the pressure-treating process may damage your plants. Measure the pallet and cut a rectangle of landscaping fabric to cover the bottom and back of the pallet. Staple landscaping fabric to the back and bottom of the pallet using a staple gun. Be liberal with staples, as the fabric will need to contain a lot of soil. Cut a heavy piece of plastic and staple it to the back and bottom of the pallet. The plastic will keep any soil that leaches out of the landscaping fabric from staining your house.

Planting

Place the pallet, open side up, on a table. Fill the pallet with good quality potting soil. Dig fertilizer into the soil so that it is well distributed. Shake the pallet a few times to make sure the soil settles. Fill the space between the slats with strawberry plants. Tamp soil around the plants to secure. Pack the pallet with as many plants as will fit. The strawberry roots will intertwine which will help to keep the soil in place.

Placement

Lean the pallet against the wall of your house. Choose a wall that gets plenty of sunlight. You may want to take the extra time to secure the pallet to the wall of the house with brackets to keep it from blowing over in a storm or being knocked over by an energetic pet.

Care

Water the pallet garden generously and fill in any gaps with additional potting soil. Water the pallet daily for at least a week and monitor the soil carefully afterward. You will probably need to water the pallet every 2 to 3 days for the strawberries to thrive. Fertilize the strawberries again in the second growing season using water to get the fertilizer to the roots.

Precautions

Strawberry plants are particularly susceptible to molds and fungal infections. Once a week, inspect the plants for signs of disease including spots on the leaves, a gray dusty residue and moldy, soft fruit. Apply a fungicide if needed.

About the Author

Carolyn Robbins began writing in 2006. Her work appears on various websites and covers various topics including neuroscience, physiology, nutrition and fitness. Robbins graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology and theology from Saint Vincent College.

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